Donors give $20,000 to animal shelter

Published: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 3:28 p.m.

The Davidson County Animal Shelter received close to $20,000 in donations last month. Shelter officials say the gifts will be used to address infrastructure needs.

Shelter director Judy Lanier said the holiday season is a busy time for donors, who usually prefer to remain anonymous. This past December was very good in terms of fundraising, Lanier said.

"When we get things donated … it improves the life of the animals here," Lanier said. "Our budget isn't necessarily built to handle that."

The funds will be used for a variety of improvements to the shelter's structure and amenities. Some of the money will be used to increase the size of the shelter's concrete back pad, where dogs exercise twice a day. The improvements will allow shelter staff to more easily separate healthy dogs from any other sick or confiscated animals that may be brought in from puppy mills or other poor situations.

"We are doing a lot of things with that space," Lanier said, adding that the pad is also used for overflow space and as a play surface.

The funds will also be used to install new cabinets in a dog exam room. The old cabinets will be installed during a refurbishing project in the cat room, Lanier said.

"I couldn't afford to put these cabinets in the exam room without donations," Lanier said.

The Davidson County Animal Shelter has operated in its current building since 1998. The shelter's maximum capacity is about 160 animals, Lanier said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the shelter can send a check to Davidson County Animal Shelter, 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292.

Donations can also be made through Friends of the Shelter at P.O. Box 1036, Thomasville, NC 27361. Donna Grooms, who founded the nonprofit last year, said donations will help pay for kennels, food, toys, treats and beds for the animals at the shelter.

Grooms said it's imperative that all citizens realize donations can save an animal's life.

"I lived here most all of my life and did not know until the year before last that animals had to die in our shelters due to lack of room," Grooms said. "I can't be the only person that did not know. I want everybody in our county and state to know these animals need a home. I believe if they do, we wouldn't have to have a euthanization rate period."

For more information, find Friends of the Shelter on Facebook or go to the animal shelter's website, www.co.davidson.nc.us/animalshelter.

Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.

<p>The Davidson County Animal Shelter received close to $20,000 in donations last month. Shelter officials say the gifts will be used to address infrastructure needs.</p><p>Shelter director Judy Lanier said the holiday season is a busy time for donors, who usually prefer to remain anonymous. This past December was very good in terms of fundraising, Lanier said.</p><p>"When we get things donated … it improves the life of the animals here," Lanier said. "Our budget isn't necessarily built to handle that."</p><p>The funds will be used for a variety of improvements to the shelter's structure and amenities. Some of the money will be used to increase the size of the shelter's concrete back pad, where dogs exercise twice a day. The improvements will allow shelter staff to more easily separate healthy dogs from any other sick or confiscated animals that may be brought in from puppy mills or other poor situations.</p><p>"We are doing a lot of things with that space," Lanier said, adding that the pad is also used for overflow space and as a play surface.</p><p>The funds will also be used to install new cabinets in a dog exam room. The old cabinets will be installed during a refurbishing project in the cat room, Lanier said.</p><p>"I couldn't afford to put these cabinets in the exam room without donations," Lanier said.</p><p>The Davidson County Animal Shelter has operated in its current building since 1998. The shelter's maximum capacity is about 160 animals, Lanier said.</p><p>Anyone wishing to donate to the shelter can send a check to Davidson County Animal Shelter, 490 Glendale Road, Lexington, NC 27292. </p><p>Donations can also be made through Friends of the Shelter at P.O. Box 1036, Thomasville, NC 27361. Donna Grooms, who founded the nonprofit last year, said donations will help pay for kennels, food, toys, treats and beds for the animals at the shelter.</p><p>Grooms said it's imperative that all citizens realize donations can save an animal's life.</p><p>"I lived here most all of my life and did not know until the year before last that animals had to die in our shelters due to lack of room," Grooms said. "I can't be the only person that did not know. I want everybody in our county and state to know these animals need a home. I believe if they do, we wouldn't have to have a euthanization rate period."</p><p>For more information, find Friends of the Shelter on Facebook or go to the animal shelter's website, www.co.davidson.nc.us/animalshelter.</p><p>Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.</p>